Organized
1910 by members from the A.M.E. church in Sumter who
thought they wanted a Reformed M.E. Church, with 120
members and Rev. William Mickens as pastor 1910-12. A
retangular frame building was erected. It proved too
small and was razed 1918 to rebuild a larger church. In
1912 it changed back to A.M.E. Church. The present
building, a frame 42 x 60, towers on each side, arched
windows--all windows have names of donors on them.
Capacity 400, erected 1918 and dedicated 1919. No
cemetery.

Organized
1888 with approximately 35 members, Rev J. S. Johnson as
pastor, 1888-1890. A building was erected 1888, and added to
1923, and is being repaired 1938.

Congruity Pres. U. S. A. Sumter
County

Organized
1869 as a bush arbor by Rev. W. R. Miller, a leader in
organizing the negroes in this section after the war between
the states with the negro members from Concord Pres. Small
rectangular frame dedicated the same year. Razed 1910 to give
place to the present church and consecrated 1911. Rectangular
straight tower from the ground up, on the left hand side
beamed ceiling, excellent condition. 32 x 60, capacity 350,
value $3000 no manse, small cemetery. First settled clergy,
Rev. W. R. Miller, tenure 1869-1874. Educational background,
was from the North, unknown. Membership in 1936 was 195. A
bible in the church has the following, "presented to
Congruity Presbyterian Church by Hon. Thomas B. Johnston,
member of the South Carolina Legislature from Sumter County
in 1894. I vol. minutes of Christian Endeavor 1901-1912, also
members collections. W. R. Miller also organized Good Will,
Ebenezer, Congruity and Melina. Records were in the home of
H. T. Gregg, by church

Ebenezer Presbyterian U.S.A.
1867 Sumter County

Organized
1867 by Rev. W.R. Miller and a missionary teacher from Pa. in
a small house near where the church now stands. Rev. Millier
was pastor for one year, 1867. Mr. ------- a large landowner
on whose place the church was organized gave--- acres to his
ex-slaves for a church and a burying ground.

Organized
in 1920 with 8 members to fill the need of a M.E. church in
the community. Rev. Thomas Sims was pastor 1910-1912. He was
very old at the time and no one could give information as to
educational background. A small cemetery is on the 1\2 acre
lot. No parsonage.

Galilee (Negro Baptist) 1890
Sumter County

Organized
1890 under the leadership of Rev. A.J. Johnson pastor
1890-1903, with 17 members who desired a church in their
neighborhood. A rectangular frame building, 32 x 48, square
tower from the ground in front, capacity 300, erected and
dedicated 1890. There is no parsonage and no cemetery.

Goodwill (Negro Baptist
Episcopal) 1869 Sumter County

Organized
1869, after the war between the states, ex-slaves from St
Marks (upper) were given a plot and a church built for them.
It is 15 x 30 has tower from ground at right side, capacity
75. Consecrated 1870. A graveyard is at the back. Lot is 1/2
acre. There has never been a settled clergyman, services were
always being conducted by the rector from St Marks or from
Sumter. The name "Goodwill" was chosen to show the
feeling for the church where they had always worshipped with
their master.

Grant Hill (Negro Baptist) 1868
Sumter County

Black River Road

Organized
1868 on the James Estate, with 120 members most possibly from
a church known as Tenon, at Bracy Mill, under a brush arbor,
with Rev. J. Capers---uneducated---pastor 1868-1873. In 1873,
the organization moved to the present site and erected a log
cabin on a lot given by Scipio Grant. It was known as the
church. This building was razed 1887. At this time the name
was changed to Grant Hill in honor of the donor of the lot. 2
acre cemetery.

High Hills AME Sumter County

Meeting House Road

Organized
1878 by the negroes living in the vicinity of High Hills of
the Santee (S.B.C.) and members of this church during
slavery, and named for the parent church. The Bishop came and
divided the negroe members into two parts, calling one part
Methodists and the other part Baptist. There were
approximately 200 in each group. Rev. Sam Williams was pastor
1868-1871. A frame building was erected across the road from
where the present church now is. It was razed 1910.

High Hills (Negro Baptist)
Sumter County

After
the war between the states, the negro members were seperated
from the whites and churches organized for them. In 1868 200
members from High Hills S.B.C. organized and named their
church for the mother church. A cruciform building, 40 x 40,
extentions 20 x 20 , capacity 44, terraced tower in front
corner, no memorials, ceiling in entry much higher than other
part, opera chairs, large cemetery at rear. Dedicated 1870.
Rev Isaach Dixon was pastor 1868-1882.

Hopewell (Negro Baptist) 1873
Sumter County

5 mi W Dalzell, to left of Hill
Crest School

Organized
in 1873 with 30 members as the result of a split in High
Hills church over a preacher, Rev January Capers as pastor,
1873-1879. A frame building 30 x 60 square tower at front,
extention at rear for pulpit, 2 small rooms on side of
pulpit, capacity 300. Cemetery at sides and across rear of
parsonage.

Joshua (Negro Baptist) 1887
Sumter County

6 mi N. Dalzell, Spring Hill
Road

Organized
1887 by 25 members from Grant Hill when a quarrel arose over
the title to the land on which that church was standing. Rev.
S. P. Taylor was the leader--pastor 1887-1907. The members
were of the Dees and the Jefferson families. Cemetery at
side.

Mt. Moriah (Negro Baptist) 1869
Sumter County

Organized
1869 by an ex-slave known as "Holmes" as he desired
a place for his race to worship , with approximately 21
members, meeting under a brush arbor. A frame building 24 x
36, roof extending to form porch, not floored, left hand end
porch enclosed for a bell tower, capacity 250. Completed in
1869 and dedicated 1870. Holmes was pastor 1869-1875.

Mt Olive A.M.E. Sumter County

Organized
in 1902, under a brush arbor till 1905 when a small
rectangular church was built. This was torn down 1917 and
rebuilt, dedicated or consecrated 1917. No cemetery. Isabelle
Johnson was the clerk.

Mt Pisgah (Negro Baptist) 1866
Sumter County

2 mi S Rembert US Rt 521

Organized
1866 with 12 members from the old Swift Creek Baptist Church
near Boykin, S.C. under the leadership of Rev Boykin--pastor
1866-1872, near where they had lived as slaves. It was known
as "Chalk Hill" till 1896 when the name was
changed. A large cemetery surrounds the church.

Mt. Zion (Negro Baptist) 1900
Sumter County

Organized
1900 when 39 members withdrew from First Baptist to organize
a church for themselves, with Rev. E. C. Conyers, a graduate
of Morris College, 1898, as pastor 1900-1923. A small frame
building 32 x 60, capacity 300. No cemetery, no parsonage.

New Bethel (Negro Baptist)
Sumter County

Organized
1880 with 29 members. Rev. A.J. Johnson was pastor 1880-1890.
A small rectangular frame building was erected about 4 back
from the highway. It burned 1925, and the organization
decided to purchase a lot on the road. A frame building 30 x
60, low tower from the ground on right high tower from the
ground, bell on left; homemade pews, capacity 250. No
cemetery.

Orange Hill (A.M.E.) 1866
Sumter County

Us Rt 261 across from Poinsette
Park

Organized
1866 with approximately 79 members by negroes who had been
freed and wanted a church of their own, with Rev. E. H. Allen
pastor 1866-1868. A frame building was erected 1866 and was
moved back on the lot 1917 to give place for a new church.
There is a neighborhood cemetery as well as a small plot
around the church.

Queen's Chapel (A.M.E.Mission)
1867 Sumter County

Organized
1867 under the leadership of Jim Morris, uneducated paster
1867-1870. A frame building 24 x 32, square tower from the
ground, piazza on each side of tower, capacity 200. Completed
1867 and dedicated1872. No cemetery. This was a mission
served by Rev. David Johnson.

Sheperd (M.E. Negro) 1908
Sumter County

7 mi N. Sumter US #15

Organized
1908 under a brush arbor with 31 members under the leadership
of Rev. Sip Horry, pastor 1908-1910. In 1912 a small building
was erected. In 1927 it was moved across the road and
renovated. A small cemetery is at the side.

St James (A.M.E.) 1890 Sumter
County

Organized
1890 by Jefferson James who desired as church in which to
preach. He pastored 1890-1892. (He was never ordained). He
found 9 methodists to join him. A small rectangular frame
building was erected 1890, and torn down 1915 as it proved
too small. The present church, cruciform 24 x 24, capacity
250, open tower, was completed 1915. No cemetery.
Bibliography: Jefferson James. Legend says a church was on
this spot in "Slavery Times", nothing could be
found to establish the fact.

St James (A.M.E.) 1917 Sumter
County

A
building was completed at once. It burned in 1932. Rev. A. J.
Jenkins pastor 1917-1934, is considered the father of the
church as it grew and prospered under him. The present
building, frame 40 x 60, tower supported by two round columns
from the ground, the height of a story, with porch under it.
When it was dedicated the name was changed to Union Station,
as they had hoped to fuse with S--- and Pine Hill. This
failed. A slab is on the wall Cornelia Ballard.

St John's (Negro Baptist) 1899
Sumter County

Organized
1899 with 19 members who desired a church in the village,
Rev. J. P. Garrick was its pastor, 1899-1910. They met in
various empty houses until a building rectangulat frame was
completed 1902. It was razed and rebuilt furthur north on the
same street, 1917. No cemetery. Records...United Order of
Abraham and Daughters of Sarah. Bibliography...cornerstone.

St Mark's Protestant Episcopal
1757

An
acre was consecrated as a cemetery in 1878; it is enclosed
with a neat iron fence. There are graves of many illustrious
South Carolinians and their Slaves.

St Paul's (A.M.E.) 1866 Sumter
County

5 mi. E. Sumter on Black River
Road

Organized
by ex-slaves 1866 under the leadership of Rev. E. Blake,
pastor 1866-1868 under a brush arbor. A frame building was
erected 1867 but torn down 1913 when the organization moved 1
mi. nearer Sumter. Was completed 1913 and dedicated 1914. The
lot also contains a 2 acre cemetery.

(Shiloh) First Baptist (Negro
Baptist) 1868 Sumter County

Organized
1868 by Rev. Paul Grantnam as "Shiloh" and a small
rectangular frame building was erected on S. Main street with
Rev. B. Lawson as pastor, 1868-1872. The same congregation,
calling themselves "The First Baptist" bought the
building and moved it to the present site., 1908. It was torn
down 1910, and the present rectangular brick, modified Gothic
building begun. A memorial window, "In memory of Paul
Grantnam by his grandson, C. A. Lawson". Other windows
bear names of donors.

Stone Hill (A.M.E.) 1880 Sumter
County

E. Newberry Street

Organized
1880 with 3 members on the plantation of the Nelson family
and named "Nelson Chapel". In 1898 most of the
members withdrew and joined the Presbyterian Church. The
remnant razed the church and rebuilt it nearer the road and
on the Woods plantation, changing the name to "Woods
Chapel". In 1916 this was abandoned and the congregation
moved into Sumter and erected the present church, and again
changed the name. It is called Stone Hill for a rural of that
name. There is no cemetery.

Wayman Chapel A.M.E. 1865
Sumter County

US Rt #261

Organized
1865 by Rev. C. B. Brown. The church was blown down in 1884
and rebuilt with a cemetery on a 3 acre lot. Clerk:Jake
Johnson. Present membership 650.

Union Baptist (Negro Baptist)
1870 Sumter County

4 mi. E. Rembert

Organized
1870 by approximately 17 members from Swift Creek Baptist
Church, meeting under a brush arbor, and with Rev. Simon
Taylor and pastor 1870-1880. A small frame building was
completed 1870 and used until 1877. Another small frame
building erected 1877, burned 1910. Graveyard on the 4 acre
lot.